Method for the determination of a receiver for location information

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a radio network controller (RNC) for receiving a LOCATION —  REPORTING —  CONTROL message and analyzing a value of a request type information element received in the LOCATION —  REPORTING —  CONTROL message. The RNC directly determines requested location information for a user equipment (UE) if the request information element indicates sending location information as a direct response to the LOCATION —  REPORTING —  CONTROL message or the RNC determines the requested location information if the UE changes the service area if the request information element indicates sending location information at a change of service area by the UE. The RNC then sends a LOCATION —  REPORT message comprising the location information and the request type information element to at least one control node.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/972,666, filed Aug. 21, 2013, which is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/358,082, filed on Jan. 25, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/495,354, filed May 12, 2004, which was the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2002/12847, filed Nov. 15, 2002, which claims the benefit of EP Application No. 01830711.6, filed Nov. 16, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

NOT APPLICABLE

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for determining the receiver of location information sent by an access network node. The invention further relates to a method for a control node and a method for an access network node for executing the invention, a mobile services switching centre and a GPRS support node adapted to executing said method and software adapted to control a control node and a software adapted to control an access network node in a way that the nodes execute the invented method.

Location services are defined for example in 3GPP (third Generation Partnership project) specifications TS22.071, version 3.2.0, published January 2000. In general, location services deliver a service that is related to the location of user equipment. To provide a location service, a service provider depends on the knowledge of the location of user equipment.

FIG. 1 depicts the architectures standardised in 3GPP TS 23.271, version 5.0.0, published October 2001. The architecture comprises two Gateway Mobile Location centres GMLC1, GMLC2, connected to core network nodes MSC, SGSN. One of the gateway mobile location centres GMLC1 is connected to an external location service client LCSC, to a home location server MSC or SGSN and a home subscriber server HLR or HSS. The other gateway mobile location centre GMLC2 is connected to an external public land mobile network PLMN. The control nodes MSC, SGSN are connected to the home location server HLR and a home subscriber server HSS, as well as to a radio access network UMTS Radio Access node SRNC. The radio access node is a radio network controller SRNC and is further connected to a node B and a further radio network controller RNC. The node B serves a user equipment UE.

The Gateway Mobile Location Centres GMLC1, GMLC2 contain functionality required to support location services. In one network, there may be more than one Gateway Mobile Location Centre.

The Gateway Mobile Location Centre GMLC1, GMLC2 is the first node an external location services in a mobile network. The Gateway Mobile Location Centre GMLC1, GMLC2 may request routing information from the home location register HLR or the home subscriber server HSS. After performing registration authorisation, it sends positioning requests to mobile services switching centre MSC or the serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) support node SGSN and receives final location estimates from the corresponding entity.

The home location register HLR and the home subscriber server HSS contain location services subscription data and routing information. For a roaming mobile subscriber, home location register/home subscriber server HLR/HSS may be in a different mobile network from the one he is currently roaming into. The location services subscription data are transferred from the home location register/home subscriber server HLR/HSS to the mobile services switching centre MSC or the serving GPRS support node SGSN during the location update procedure.

Location services subscription data include a privacy profile containing the privacy classes for which location of the target subscriber is permitted. Each privacy class is treated as a distinct supplementary service with its own supplementary service code.

The mobile services switching centre MSC and the serving GPRS support node SGSN contain the functionality responsible for the user's location services subscription and privacy. The location services functions of mobile services switching centre MSC and the serving GPRS support node SGSN are also related to charging and billing, location services co-ordination of all location requests, authorisation and authentication of the positioning requests received from the Gateway Mobile Location Centre GMLC1, GMLC2. The serving radio network controller SRNC provides, among the others, the serving mobile location client functionality that means it is the node in which the user equipment location information is calculated.

The location services system provides the opportunity of requesting the location of the mobile user terminals from an external location services client (Mobile Terminating Location Request=MT-LR), the location from the terminal itself (Mobile Originating Location Request=MO-LR) and the auto-induced location from the network (Network Induced Location Request=NI-LR).

The node B, the radio network controller SRNC, RNC and the user equipment UE are not explained in more detail.

FIG. 2 gives an example of a circuit switched, mobile terminating, location request.

In this figure the access network nodes node B, serving radio network controller SRNC and radio network controller RNC are combined in the radio access network RAN. An external entity EE sends a location request LRQ to a mobile service switching centre MSC to gain location information of a user equipment UE. The mobile services switching centre MSC executes paging, authentication and ciphering with the user equipment UE. These steps may be redundant in the case of a busy user equipment.

In the depicted case of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) access, the Location Request is sent from the mobile services switching centre MSC to the radio access network RAN by means of RANAP (Radio Access Network Application Protocol) LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message LRC. The steps performed to execute a calculation of a position of the user equipment UE depend on proprietary positioning methods. The result of the calculations is received in RANAP LOCATION_(—) REPORT message LR. The location request result is sent from the mobile services switching centre MSC to the external entity EE in a LOCATION_(—) REQUEST_(—) RESULT message LRR.

LOCATION_REPORTING_CONTROL and LOCATION_REPORT RANAP messages are used for both Location Services and other mobile services switching centre MSC or serving GPRS support node functions SGSN, not related to Positioning, asking to report upon change of Service Area. If positioning is requested, the serving radio access controller shall report on a per request base, if reporting upon change of Service Area is requested, the serving radio access controller shall report whenever the user equipment UE moves between Service Areas.

It is a shortcoming of the system as described in 3GPP TS 23.271, version 5.0.0 and in 3GPP TS 25.413, version 4.2.0, that it is not possible to distinguish a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message received as a result of a Service Area change from the same message received as an answer on an external location request. In the case that a service area change is reported by a LOCATION_REPORT message while a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message is expected as an answer to a LOCATION_REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message that demands an immediate response, there is no mechanism to distinguish between the respective LOCATION_REPORT messages. It is object of the invention to introduce a system that can distinguish between LOCATION_(—) REPORT messages, sent as an answer on different events.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is solved advantageously by the radio network controller of the claims.

Advantageous is the use of the already existing information element request type this permits the implementation of the invention without major changes on interfaces between radio network controller and control node.

Further advantageous embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims.

Advantageous is that an identification of the request type is always included in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message. This simplifies the control program in the radio network controller.

Further advantageous is that an identification of the request type is included in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message only if the location information is requested by an external entity. This simplifies the control program in the control node.

Further advantageous is that an identification of the request type is included in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message only if the location information is intended for a network node. By this, the handling of LOCATION_REPORT message is simplified significantly.

The control nodes, that is the GPRS support node SGSN and the mobile services switching centre MSC comprise means for analysing a value of a request type information element filed of a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message and means for determining a receiver of location information. These means can be implemented by hardware, for example as a logic circuit or by software, for example a software module, or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following figures show:

FIG. 1: depicts an architecture for the support of location services as state of the art, (state of the art)

FIG. 2: depicts a signal flow for a location request as state of the art, (state of the art)

FIG. 3: depicts a flow diagram of the invented method,

FIG. 4: depicts a further flow diagram of the invented method, and

FIG. 5: depicts a further flow diagram of the invented method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following the invention is described in more detail by means of embodiments and figures.

The invention uses the already existing information element request type of the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message for determining the recipient of a location information. The determination is executed in a control node. In the case that the request is a packet switched location request it is executed by a SGSN, in the case that it is a circuit switched request it is executed by a mobile services switching centre MSC.

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of the invented method. In a first step, a control node sends a LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message to a radio network controller. This message comprises an information element request type that identifies the type of request. The type of request is identified for example that the radio access network is requested to send location information in a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message at a change of service area by a user equipment or as a direct response on the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message.

In a next step, the radio network controller receives the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message. It analyses it whether the value of the information element request type indicates to send a LOCATION_REPORT message immediately, or not. If a LOCATION_REPORT message is required immediately, the radio network controller determines the location of a user equipment and sends the location information together with the request type value received in the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message to the core network node. If the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message is required after a certain trigger event, in this example a change of service area by the user equipment, the radio network controller sets the respective trigger event and monitors, whether the user equipment changes the service area. If so, the radio network controller detects this trigger event, determines the location information of the user equipment and sends it together with the received request type value to the control node.

The control node receives the LOCATION_REPORT message including the request type. It checks whether the request type value indicated an immediate response. If so, the location information is intended for an external entity and the control node sends it to said external entity. If not, the information is used internal of the network.

FIG. 4 depicts another flow chart of an alternative of the invented method to the implementation as described by FIG. 3. In a first step, a control node sends a LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message to a radio network controller. This message comprises an information element request type that identifies the type of request. The type of request is identified for example that the radio access network is requested to send location information in a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message at a change of service area by a user equipment or as a direct response on the LOCATION_REPORTING_CONTROL message.

In a next step, the radio network controller receives the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message. It analyses it whether the value of the information element request type indicates to send a response, that is a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message, immediately, or not. If a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message is required immediately, the radio network controller determines the location of a user equipment and sends the location information together with the request type value received in the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message to the core network node. If the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message is required after a certain trigger event, in this example a change of service area by the user equipment, the radio network controller sets the respective trigger. The radio network controller monitors, whether the user equipment changes the service area. If so, the radio network controller detects this trigger, determines the location information of the user equipment and sends it to the control node. In this embodiment, the lack of the request type information element value in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message, indicates that the message is to be used network internal.

The control node receives the LOCATION_REPORT message including the request type. It checks whether a request type value is returned. If so, the location information is intended for an external entity and the control node sends it to said external entity. If not, the information is used network internal.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the invention by means of a flow chart, wherein the determining is handled vice versa to the embodiment of FIG. 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a request type value has been returned in the case that the location information is to be used network internal. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the request type value is returned, when the location information is to be forwarded to an external entity.

Request type values indicating that an immediate response is required are for example: “Request of current location” or “Request of current or last known location”.

The invention further relates to software stored on a computer readable medium or in a form that can be loaded into a memory of a computing device. A computing device is for example a control node or a control node server that executes a stored program. 

What is claimed:
 1. A radio network controller (RNC) in a mobile telecommunication network operating according to Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) specification, the telecommunication network comprising at least one control node for handling location service requests for a user equipment, the RNC comprising: receiving circuitry, adapted to receive from the at least one control node a LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message, comprising a request type information element for indicating the type of location request; and at least one processor, adapted to analyze a value of the request type information element received in the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message, wherein if the request type information element indicates sending location information as a direct response to the LOCATION_REPORTING_CONTROL message, the at least one processor causes the RNC to directly determine the requested location information; and if the request type information element indicates sending location information at a change of service area by the user equipment, the at least one processor causes the RNC to determine the requested location information if the user equipment changes the service area; and sending circuitry, adapted to send a LOCATION_REPORT message comprising the location information and the request type information element to the at least one control node for handling location service requests.
 2. The RNC according to claim 1, wherein the request type information element is one of: a recipient of a location information; identity of a type of location request; an indication to send a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message; an indication to report upon change of Service area; or an indication to stop reporting at change of Service Area.
 3. The RNC according to claim 1, wherein the request type information element sent in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message always comprises an identification of the type of location request.
 4. The RNC according to claim 1, wherein the request type information element sent in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message comprises an identification of the type of location request in the case that the location information is intended for a network node.
 5. The RNC according to claim 1, wherein the control node is a mobile services switching center.
 6. The RNC according to claim 1, wherein the control node is a serving general packet radio service support node.
 7. A radio network controller (RNC) in a mobile telecommunication network operating according to Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) specification, the telecommunication network comprising at least one control node for handling location service requests for a user equipment, the RNC comprising: at least one processor; and memory containing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the RNC to: receive from the at least one control node a LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message, comprising a request type information element for indicating the type of location request; and analyze a value of the request type information element received in the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message, wherein if the request type information element indicates sending location information as a direct response to the LOCATION_(—) REPORTING_(—) CONTROL message, the RNC directly determines the requested location information; and if the request type information element indicates sending location information at a change of service area by the user equipment, the RNC determines the requested location information if the user equipment changes the service area; and send a LOCATION_REPORT message comprising the location information and the request type information element to the at least one control node for handling location service requests.
 8. The RNC of claim 7, wherein the request type information element is one of: a recipient of a location information; identity of a type of location request; an indication to send a LOCATION_(—) REPORT message; an indication to report upon change of Service area; or an indication to stop reporting at change of Service Area.
 9. The RNC according to claim 7, wherein the request type information element sent in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message always comprises an identification of the type of location request.
 10. The RNC according to claim 7, wherein the request type information element sent in the LOCATION_(—) REPORT message comprises an identification of the type of location request in the case that the location information is intended for a network node.
 11. The RNC according to claim 7, wherein the control node is a mobile services switching center.
 12. The RNC according to claim 7, wherein the control node is a serving general packet radio service support node. 